Holy offense, Batman
From The GIST College Sports (hi@thegistsports.com)
Hello!
Whether you’re skipping into the new week just like UConn women’s basketball star Paige Bueckers, or having trouble finding your Monday morning mojo, we have you covered. Check out the latest college sports news to add a little pep to your step.
— Top-40 men’s basketball recruit Kiyan Anthony, on committing to Syracuse, the same program his dad, 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, led to a National Championship in 2003. All in the family.
Football
🏈🚨 Upset(s) alert
The GIST: Saturday was rock chalk-full of upsets that will have major implications on the playoff picture. And as if that wasn’t enough drama, the No. 1 team in the country nearly went down, too. Here’s what you need to know from a wild Week 12:
No. 12 Georgia beats No. 7 Tennessee 31–17, keeps playoff hopes alive: This was a must-win game for the Bulldogs, who found themselves outside of the playoff picture in the latest College Football Playoff (CPF) rankings ahead of kickoff.
- But they thrived under pressure, as senior quarterback Carson Beck threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead his squad to the SEC victory. These Dawgs aren’t done yet.
Kansas stuns No. 6 BYU 17–13: The Cougars were undefeated and in control of the Big 12, that is until unranked Kansas entered the picture: The Jayhawks handed BYU its first loss of the season behind two rushing touchdowns from running back Devin Neal.
- And the loss brings some intrigue to the top of the Big 12 standings, especially after No. 17 Colorado defeated Utah 49–24, meaning the Buffs and BYU now have matching records in conference play. Spicy.
No. 1 Oregon survives Wisconsin 16–13: The Ducks have held the top spot in the country since Week 9, but that top billing was in jeopardy as Wisconsin took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter on Saturday.
- Oregon quacked their way to the comeback dub though, scoring 10 unanswered points to save their No. 1 ranking. Phew.
Field hockey
🏑 And then there were four
The GIST: The stage is officially set: No. 1 North Carolina, No. 2 Northwestern, No. 4 Saint Joseph’s, and UMass are the final four teams in contention for the NCAA Field Hockey Championship following yesterday’s electric quarter-finals. Friday’s semis can’t come soon enough.
Two-time defending champs UNC continue to dominate: The Tar Heels are cruising in their quest for a three-peat, blanking Delaware 4–0 in the first round before holding Duke scoreless 3–0 yesterday. Junior forward Ryleigh Heck led her team to the Final Four, netting two goals against Duke.
Northwestern survives overtime (OT) thriller vs. Virginia: The most intense matchup of the quarter-finals, this one needed extra time to decide the winner. The Hoos tied things up in the fourth quarter to force OT, but Northwestern grad student Lauren Wadas ultimately sealed the 3–2 victory in the extra frame, keeping the Wildcats’ hopes of a fourth straight title game appearance alive. Me-ow.
Defense shines for Saint Joseph’s: You know what they say, defense…secures a spot in the final four. The Hawks posted two 1–0 victories over the weekend, allowing just one shot on goal in yesterday’s win over Princeton.
Massachusetts stuns Harvard in intra-state battle: UMass only had three shots on goal in yesterday’s quarter-final, but grad student Claire Danahy made this one count, lifting the Minutewomen to the 1–0 dub. So clutch.
⚽ Cal stuns No. 7-seed Pepperdine in first round of NCAA women’s soccer tournament
The 64-team tourney kicked off over the weekend and saw senior forward Alexis Wright score her fifth goal of the season, lifting Cal to a double-OT win over Pepperdine on Saturday, among a handful of other first-round upsets. We’ll have to wait until Friday to see if the Golden Bears can keep the magic alive in the second round.
😮 Wake Forest shocks No. 7 Clemson to claim first ACC men’s soccer title since 2017
With today’s 1 p.m. ET selection show looming, Wake redshirt sophomore Nico Rabiu picked the perfect time to net his first career goal, as his 39th minute equalizer forced OT and eventually penalty kicks against defending national champions Clemson. Stunners, everywhere you look.
🦡 Wisconsin men’s basketball upsets No. 9 Arizona 103–88
March Madness, meet November nonsense. The Badgers pulled off the top-10 victory (their first since 2010) thanks to a high-powered scoring barrage that included a whopping 41 points from grad guard John Tonje. Holy offense, Batman.
🐸 TCU women’s basketball defeats No. 13 NC State for statement 76–73 victory
The Horned Frogs have been knocking on the door of the AP Top-25, and yesterday’s win over the Wolfpack will almost certainly get them over the hump. Sedona Prince was dominant with 31 points and 16 rebounds, while Hailey Van Lith had a double-double of her own, posting 18 points and 10 assists.
Giveaway Alert
Do you hear that? It’s the sound of waves crashing — paradise is calling for you to enter to win a trip to Mexico. Vamos!
- You and a pal will enjoy a three-night, all-inclusive stay in Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf and Spa Resort in stunning Cabo San Lucas, where you can soak up the sun and relax on a beachside lounger. Toes in the sand and a taco in hand? Sí, por favor.
Ready for the vacay of your dreams? Enter today.
Here’s what passed The GIST squad’s vibe check this week:
🍴Who to eat like
Coach Prime. Colorado football head coach Deion Sanders recently shared his health secrets with GQ. Dig in
👖 What to feel nostalgic about
Limited Too making a comeback and giving millennial women everywhere a reason to relive the 2000s mall era.
🏈 What to debate
Extra point or go for two? NFL coaches are split, and it’s giving fans plenty to discuss.
Today’s email was brought to you by Eden Laase and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Adrianne Dean. Fact checking by Mikaela Perez. Ops by Marga Sison and Elisha Gunaratnam. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alessandra Puccio, and Lisa Minutillo. Managing edits by Dee Lab. Head of Content Ellen Hyslop.